I for one, am hoping there is a pilot shortage, but agree it really has to do with the wages and QOL that US regionals offer. I fly light twin turbines in Africa on a 50/50 roster, all expenses paid from the time I show up at BOS until I return to BOS, for the same salary that a 5 year FO makes at a Legacy according to APC's airline profiles page. I want to come home permanently, it is extremely difficult to maintain a happy homelife, add in the fact that worrying about terrorists(37 expats were killed in an attack 120NM south of me last year) and giving up so much of my freedom while at work has gotten old, but I still need to be able to pay my bills

I am currently researching my options and hoping this hiring wave is my ticket. I have 5,500 TT with 1,500 Multi Turbine PIC, but it is all light turbine. Not sure if the Legacies will consider me or not. I am hoping 3+ years of international experience will tip the scale in my favor. When I look at JetBlue or Virgin, I can get by on their pay and QOL, but at the regionals How do you keep your head afloat?! Then I read about the QOL at the regionals to top it off!

And that is the real reason regionals are having a shortage. ALPA has it right, pay pilots what they are worth, treat them humanely, and the shortage will disappear. I can not understand how this is so difficult for the regionals to understand. None of the Legacies are having trouble attracting qualified pilots, none of the international carriers are having trouble, none of the overseas bush operators are having trouble either.

What does surprise me, is that the regionals are crying wolf and gathering attention from the public over this. Yet every time I read an article on the subject, the regionals' deplorable compensation is pointed out as the main cause! So why do they want the light shined on them...?